Slain Cobb County Deputies Identified

MARIETTA, GA — The two deputies killed Thursday night in Cobb County have been identified as Jonathan Koleski, 42, and Marshall Ervin Jr., 38. Authorities have also identified Christopher Golden, of Marietta, as the gunman accused of killing the two deputies Thursday night while they were serving a warrant.

Koleski and Ervin were attempting to arrest Christopher Cook on a failure to appear for theft by deception warrant around 7:45 p.m.

The situation happened in the 2400 block of Hampton Glen Court, where the deputies were shot and killed.

Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said Friday Cook faces the theft charge while Golden is facing two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of murder.

Both Koleski and Ervin regularly worked the evening shift together, Cobb County Sheriff Craig D. Owens Sr. said. They were both married and Ervin was a father of two children, he said.

During a Friday news conference, Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation founder Robert G. Haley said the nonprofit will assist the families financially and will work to provide scholarships for Ervin’s children.

The shootout happened outside of the Marietta home, where both suspects lived, VanHoozer said. Shots came from inside of the house, he said.

While trying to arrest Cook, the deputies were confronted by Golden, who had a gun, VanHoozer said. He said Golden refused to put down the gun as the deputies asked, which led to the shooting.
The deputies put out a "pep call," requesting assistance and triggering a response from several law-enforcement agencies from all over the area, Owens said early Friday.

Both deputies died from their injuries.

After a brief stand-off, both Cook and Golden gave up peacefully, VanHoozer said. He confirmed they were the only two people in the house.

The situation was “extremely dangerous” and an “uphill battle,” VanHoozer said, noting he was thankful there weren’t more injuries.

During an earlier news conference, Owens said Koleski and Ervin were “ambushed.”

"It is a night of heartache for the two families of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office," Owens said in an early Friday morning news conference. "Two wives have lost amazing husbands. I am saddened to report this evening that the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has lost two, young bright deputies."

Owens said both deputies served at the sheriff's office for at least five years with "dignity and honor.”

He called them outstanding men of character and integrity who were loved by their families.
Owens said the families were “devastated” and “heartbroken.”

Moments after it was announced the two deputies died, several first-responder agencies took to social media to offer support.

Gov. Brian Kemp reached out to the sheriff to offer state resources, Owens said.

GBI Director Mike Register said at a news conference the state agency is prepared to help the sheriff’s office.

Owens said law-enforcement from all over the nation have contacted him. Support has come from as far as Germany and Ireland, he said.

Owens asked for prayer for law enforcement.

"What words can you say when you lose your family member, and those words don’t come easy, but just speaking straight from the heart, I would say just pray for us because we need it," he said.
"Our hearts are broken here in Cobb County. Our hearts are definitely broken, and it’s going to take some prayers to help us get back to where we need to be, and because of the people you see behind me today, I think we’ll be able to overcome that; but, it’s not going to be an easy road."

Owens said this is the first time the sheriff's office has experienced line-of-duty deaths since he took the helm nearly 18 months ago. He said it is also the first time the sheriff's office had deputies die by shooting.

"It is a very difficult time for us, and I think when one agency loses someone, we all lose someone," he said.

"We need to do something about (these) guns on the street," Owens said.

Donations for the families are being collected at cobbsheriffsfoundation.org.